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Shloka 15

Sevaka-parīkṣā (Testing and Appointment of Servants) and Rājadharma Outcomes

Devanagari script

दुर्जनः परिहर्तव्यो विद्ययालङ्कृतो ऽपिसन् / मणिना भूषितः सर्पः किमसौ न भयङ्करः

Transliteration

durjanaḥ parihartavyo vidyayālaṅkṛto 'pisan / maṇinā bhūṣitaḥ sarpaḥ kimasau na bhayaṅkaraḥ

Translation

Den Bösewicht soll man meiden, selbst wenn er mit Gelehrsamkeit geschmückt ist; denn ist eine Schlange nicht furchterregend, auch wenn sie mit einem Edelstein geziert ist?

Word by Word
दुर्-जनःa wicked person
दुर्-जनः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootदुर् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (दुष्टः जनः)
परिहर्तव्यःto be avoided
परिहर्तव्यः:
Vidheyavisheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेयविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootपरि + √हृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle): ‘to be avoided’
विद्ययाby learning/knowledge
विद्यया:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootविद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन
अलङ्कृतःadorned
अलङ्कृतः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअलङ् + √कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)
अपिeven
अपि:
Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय/अपवादसूचक (particle: even/also)
सन्being
सन्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Root√अस् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle)
मणिनाwith a jewel
मणिना:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootमणि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन
भूषितःadorned
भूषितः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Root√भूष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP)
सर्पःa snake
सर्पः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसर्प (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
किम्what?/is it that...?
किम्:
Prashna (Interrogative/प्रश्न)
TypeNoun
Rootकिम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)
असौthat (one)
असौ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootअदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम
नnot
न:
Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)
भयङ्करःterrifying
भयङ्करः:
Vidheyavisheshana (Predicate adjective/विधेयविशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootभयङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, typical dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: विद्या without सद्गुण does not make a दुर्जन safe; external brilliance can mask inner विष (harm).

Vedantic Theme: Distinction between apparent qualities (upādhi) and inner nature (svabhāva); asat-saṅga avoidance; sattva as true ornament.

Application: Evaluate people by conduct and compassion, not credentials; be wary of charismatic or highly educated individuals who lack ethics.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: moral allegory

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana nīti-style verses on दुर्जन-परिहार and sat-saṅga

FAQs

This verse teaches discernment: learning alone does not purify a harmful nature, so one should avoid association with the wicked even if they appear respectable or scholarly.

Indirectly, it supports dharmic living by warning against influences that lead one into adharma; such choices shape karma and therefore affect the soul’s post-death journey described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Evaluate people by conduct and integrity rather than credentials or eloquence; keep distance from manipulative or harmful individuals even if they seem impressive.

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